Inaugurated in 1990, after the refurbishment carried out by the architects Junquera and Pérez Pita, it was for a time the largest open-plan exhibition space in the city with its 250 m² in its main hall.
It has had intermittent activity (1990-1996, 2008-2010 and 2022). During these periods it was the venue for important contemporary art collections, sometimes simultaneously with the Palacete, such as those of the Arco Foundation, Coca Cola, La Caixa and extensive exhibitions by artists such as Juan Uslé, Miguel Ángel Campano, Txomin Badiola, Jon Kessler, Xesús Vázquez and Soledad Sevilla. Among the landmark exhibitions were those by Albert and Markus Oehlen in 1990, and the following year the first exhibition in Spain by James Turrell, both the result of the close collaboration between the Menéndez Pelayo International University and the Port Authority of Santander in the summer programme of activities.
After a break of almost 10 years, this gallery resumed its activity in 2006, devoting special interest to private collecting of contemporary art with two exhibitions of its own production; "Painting and Better Present" or "Story Book, Story Board" held in 2009 and 2010 respectively and to the work of emerging artists, either individually or collectively, in collaboration with the Directorate General for Youth of the Government of Cantabria, an outstanding example being the installation by Juan López in 2009.
In 2022 and on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Port of Santander, the Sotoliva Ship is refurbished and reopened to the public.
